James j



(No Model.) J. J. DOYLE.

Sponge Moistener.

No. 229,680. Patented July 6,1880.

ATTORNEY NPETERS.PHGTO-LWKOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D G.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES J. DOYLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE PALMER SPONGEMOISTENING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SPONGE-MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 229,680, dated July 6,1880. Application filed May 4, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES J. DOYLE, of thecity, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Sponge-Moisteners, of which the following is aspecification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a verticallongitudinal section of my improved sponge-moistener, and Fig. 2 a topview of the same with the water-reservoir removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved sponge-moistener for office andother uses, which contains a large quantity of water, so that thefrequent refilling of the sponge-cup is avoided and a uniform quantityof moisture is always supplied to the fingers.

The invention consists of a sponge-cup with socket-shaped extension andof a bulb-shaped water-reservoir which is set byits lower groundspoutinto a socket of the cup, the latter having an opening (ionnecting withthe socket portion 1n the drawings, A represents the cupshaped base,having the open top or mouth .70, for inserting and removing the sponge;B, the bulb-shaped reservoir of my improved spongelnoistener.

The reservoir B is preferably of spherical shape, and provided at itslower part .with a rim, to, and with a downwardly extending spout, b.The flat under side of the rim rests on a seat of a socketextension, A,of the cup A. The spout is tightly fitted by grinding into the socket A,so as to form a reliable connection therewith, a rubber gasket beingfurthermore interposed between the rim (1 and the seat a.

The socket A connects with the sponge-cup A by an opening or recess, at,so as to supply the water thereto from the reservoir. The reservoir B isrefilled from time to time, as required, and placed in position into thesocket of the cup by quickly inverting the reservoir and inserting thespout into the socket, closing at the sametime the opening of the spoutby means of the forefinger, which is placed through the recess 61 intothe socket. On removing the finger a quantity of water suffi- 5o cientto fill the cup up to alevel with the opening of the spout will besupplied, the partial vacuum at the inside of the reservoir preventing afurther escape.

The sponge absorbs the water in the cup, and is uniformly supplied withwater from the reservoir until the same is used up.

By means of the open mouth 00 the sponge may be readily inserted orremoved for cleansing or other purposes.

If the cup is kept properly covered when the device is not in use, thereservoir willhold out for months. A new supply of water is fed to thesponge whenever the level of the water in the socket A falls below theopening of the spout.

Another advantage of the sponge-moistener is, that the sponge has alwaysa uniform degree of moisture without the disagreeable feature of thecommon sponge-cups, in which the sponge is at one time too moist and atother times too dry.

I am aware that sponge-moisteners consisting of a sponge-cup and asupply-reservoir connected thereto are well known, and I do not claimthe same, broadly.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- The combination of asponge-cup, A, having the openmouth 00 and a socket, A, connected with the cup by an opening orrecess, 61, and a water-reservoir, B, having a base-rim, a, anddischarge-spout b, fitting into the socket A, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two witnesses, this 4th day of March, 1880.

JAMES J. DOYLE.

Witnesses PAUL GOEPEL, CARL KARP.

